A seventeenth century wheelock

[Matchlock]

Hi Raf,


I take pride in being the first to congratulate! This is a mechanism the overwhelming quality of craftsmanship and finest possible state of preservation of which would make it worthy of being exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum New York! This an extremely rare sample to demonstrate the originally contrasting colors of many other pieces that have not been handed down to us in this virtually 'untouched' condition but have been scrubbed off again and again.

As it does look a bit dry I would apply a thin layer of oil on a cloth and wipe it carefully! This conservatory treatment would also add to the stunning contrast of both the flame bluing (at ca. 260-280 °C) and the fire gilding.

Ca. 1670, I should say.


Best,
Michael